As a film critic with a background in Midwestern American cinema, I can’t help but be captivated by the extraordinary success of “Twisters.” Having grown up in the heart of Tornado Alley, I’ve always held a deep fascination for films that explore the unpredictable and destructive power of nature. The original “Twister” (1996) starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton was a formative experience for me, and I remember the anticipation leading up to its release and the excitement it generated in my community.
The 1996 film “Twister”‘s sequel is creating quite a stir at the domestic box office, generating earnings that some consider remarkable. This contributes to the growing excitement for this summer’s box office.
As a devoted fan, I can’t hide my excitement about the impressive success of “Twisters,” despite the lingering concerns from studio bosses and box office experts who are comparing this summer’s uneven performance with the pre-pandemic blockbuster numbers of “Barbenheimer.” Nevertheless, Universal Pictures President of Domestic Distribution, Jim Orr, who spearheaded the film’s release in the US, shares my enthusiasm. He expressed to Variety that we had high expectations for this movie, and it has surpassed those goals. Furthermore, the strong box office performance is not limited to any specific coast, making it all the more enjoyable to witness.
Orr’s suggestion is clear: A significant portion of “Twisters” box office revenue in the US comes from Midwestern audiences, attracted by innovative marketing strategies and premium theater options. However, the film’s success can be attributed to more than just clever casting and nostalgia. The public seems genuinely enthusiastic about the movie. David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research praised it as an ideal summer blockbuster to Variety. But will “Twisters” withstand the upcoming competition from “Deadpool” and “Wolverine”? Let’s examine the data to find out.
What did Twisters make at the box office?
As of now, “Twisters” has earned approximately $90.4 million in the United States, with an impressive $81 million during its debut weekend. Exceeding expectations, this sequel surpassed its predicted opening revenue of $50 million by an astounding 60%. Furthermore, it is performing exceptionally well against other popular summer releases.
To provide some context, let’s examine the international box office performances of a few other successful summer releases with impressive debuts – “Bad Boys: Ride or Die,” $56.5 million; “A Quiet Place: Day One,” $52.2 million; and “Despicable Me 4,” $75 million. In terms of domestic earnings, “Twisters” is currently surpassing these films, all of which are ranked among the top ten highest-grossing movies in the U.S. for 2024. Notably, its opening is just a few million short of that of “Dune: Part Two,” which holds the second position. However, when considering global earnings, the situation shifts slightly.
In other parts of the world, “Twister” earned an additional $42.7 million, bringing its opening weekend worldwide revenue to over $123 million. As a classic American action movie, it’s not unexpected that it hasn’t generated much interest outside the US. However, this could be a disadvantage for the film in foreign markets and limit its global earning capacity. Nevertheless, domestic audiences seem to be heavily drawn to it, contributing significantly to its impressive box office performance at home.
Twisters dodged Deadpool and Wolverine
In the typical scenario of box office hits, “Twisters” had minimal competition when it was released due to a lack of major movies at that time. Currently holding the top spot, its competitors are “Inside Out 2” and “Despicable Me 4,” which cater mainly to families with young children in the animated genre. Even if these films were strong contenders (which could be arguably said for “Inside Out 2”), they had already been released several weeks prior, allowing “Twisters” ample time to succeed regardless of its target demographic.
Universal wisely released “Twisters” before Marvel’s “Deadpool and Wolverine,” set to hit theaters on July 26. The proximity of these films might initially harm “Twisters,” causing a larger than anticipated decline in ticket sales once “Deadpool and Wolverine” premieres, known for its R-rating, leaving audiences spellbound. However, having a PG-13 rating gives “Twisters” an edge, potentially enabling it to maintain some box office success despite the competition.
Critical reviews were mostly kind
In our recent viewing of “Twister,” it became clear that this movie was not predicted to receive great acclaim from critics. Actor Bill Paxton, who starred in the film, expressed concern over its potential effect on his career and reportedly began planning his next project while still shooting for “Twister.” However, Glen Powell, who is set to appear in Edgar Wright’s upcoming adaptation of “The Running Man,” need not fret about facing similar criticism.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie “Twisters” maintains a high rating with a “Certified Fresh” 77%, surpassing the 67% score of the 1996 film that isn’t certified. Metacritic, which calculates critics’ scores as an average out of 100, gave “Twisters” a “favorable” score of 65/100, only three points below its predecessor’s rating.
Alissa Wilkinson from The New York Times described the film as having “plenty of enjoyable moments and just enough risk to keep you engaged.” In her three-star review for RogerEbert.com, Tomris Laffly noted that the movie was “fascinatingly engaging as a summer blockbuster” due to Powell’s acting, despite not reaching its full capability. David Fear of Rolling Stone seemed to believe that “Twisters” was not only a disaster film but also a quest for the lost enchantment of grand cinema itself.
Audiences were pulled right in
As a passionate gamer and movie lover, I understand the power of social media criticism, but it’s essential to remember that it only represents half of a film’s initial reception. For instance, “Twisters” received an impressive “A-” grade from CinemaScore based on surveys of moviegoers as they left the theater. Furthermore, this film is thriving at online review aggregators like Rotten Tomatoes, with a whopping 92% audience score, and IMDb, where users have given it an average rating of 7.1 out of 10 stars. However, it’s important to note that Metacritic, another platform for evaluating movies, has a significantly lower rating of 5.1 out of 10.
According to Michael O’Leary, the President and CEO of National Association of Theatre Owners, speaking with the Associated Press, the strong box office sales of “Twisters” demonstrate that when a production is captivating, intriguing, and has widespread appeal, audiences from various regions will flock to theaters. Though the initial opening numbers are impressive, O’Leary expressed greater enthusiasm for the movie’s potential success in the coming weeks as more people learn about its rave reviews from those who have already seen it. He predicted that “the word of mouth on this film will be exceptional.”
There was much online discourse
While positive word of mouth is crucial for a film’s achievement, an appropriate level of online conversation can also significantly influence its popularity. For “Twisters,” two contentious topics discussed extensively online kept the movie fresh in viewers’ minds and potentially increased their curiosity to watch it. The most debated issue centered around the creative choice to overlook the ongoing climate crisis in a film primarily focused on weather events.
From my perspective as a fan, it can be disheartening when a movie decides to avoid addressing controversial topics like climate change, despite the fact that there’s ongoing debate about its impact on natural disasters such as tornadoes. However, “Twisters” director Lee Isaac Chung expressed his viewpoint that preaching to the audience isn’t the right approach for cinema. He believes movies shouldn’t be message-driven. On the other hand, Bob Bagby, head of the National Association of Theater Owners, suggested that viewers prefer films that transport them away from reality, even if that means ignoring important issues like climate change.
Simultaneously, some social media users expressed confusion over a cut scene in the movie where Glen Powell’s character Tyler and Daisy Edgar-Jones’ character Kate shared a kiss at the end. According to Chung, if the film ended with this kiss, it might give the impression that Kate’s entire journey was just about obtaining that kiss.
It’s the first major disaster movie in a long time
In the past, Hollywood filmmakers such as Irwin Allen and Roland Emmerich built successful careers by creating movies centered around natural disasters devastating cities and iconic landmarks. These films, filled with awe-inspiring spectacle and intense drama, proved to be profitable ventures for the entertainment industry. However, it might come as a surprise that “Twister” was the first major natural disaster film to hit American theaters since 2018.
In 2020, Gerard Butler’s under-the-radar hit “Greenland” showed promise as a summer blockbuster for disaster films, garnering favorable feedback from critics. Unfortunately, due to numerous COVID-19-induced setbacks, the movie ended up premiering on video-on-demand platforms instead of in theaters. This unexpected turn of events was disappointing for the genre, which has had a meager output in the past ten years with only four significant releases – “Twisters” among them – and two of those featuring Butler (“Greenland” and “Geostorm”). The fourth being Dwayne Johnson’s “San Andreas”.
For people who are sad that a “Twister” sequel with Helen Hunt didn’t get made, we’ll have to wait and see if the new movie called “Twisters” has brought the genre back in any way – it’s unlikely that conversations about a sequel haven’t started already based on the box office earnings.
It’s a sequel to a beloved ’90s hit
Discussing the past era of disaster movies, it’s worth mentioning that one standout film from this time was the 1996 blockbuster “Twister.” This movie, which revolved around storm chasing, left a lasting impression and even led to an increase in applications at the University of Oklahoma’s meteorology program due to its portrayal. The release of a sequel after almost three decades is a testament to the significant cultural impact the original film had and continues to have. Movies like “Twister” are able to tap into our nostalgia effectively.
In addition, it’s important to mention that “Twisters” debuted during a time when moviegoers seemed more open to sequels compared to previous years. Instead of shunning them as they did in 2023, audiences welcomed follow-ups in various genres. These included superhero movies like “Shazam: Fury of the Gods,” “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,” and “The Marvels,” as well as franchise installments such as “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” “Fast X,” and “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning.” However, these sequels didn’t meet expectations in terms of box office performance and some even flopped. In contrast, nine out of the top 10 highest-grossing domestic films this year are currently sequels (as opposed to four in 2023).
Twisters recaptured the original’s magic in a bigger way
The 2023 version of “Twisters” effectively recaptures the essence of the 1996 film, enhanced by three decades of technological progress in movie production and visual effects. According to research consultant David A. Gross, this upgrade significantly contributes to the new installment’s impressive achievement. He shared with Variety, “We’re revisiting the same chaos we encountered before, but it’s now 28 years later, and the scale, the special effects, and the action sequences are more breathtaking than ever.”
The visual experience of “Twisters” is truly captivating, as the movie manages to convincingly portray a fiery tornado. However, some critics, including the original “Twister” director Jan de Bont, argue that this innovation might diminish the film’s enchantment for certain viewers. In an interview with Inverse in 2023, De Bont expressed his concern about the upcoming sequel, stating, “When objects rained down from the sky [in ‘Twister’], they were actual items dropped from a helicopter. If you filmed a car being chased by a tornado amidst a hailstorm, it was real ice pelting us. ‘Twister’ is a unique production that cannot be replicated … Such an event would never occur again.”
A glittering cast of rising stars led the way
The lack of realistic depictions in “Twister” is compensated by its impressive cast. With stars like Helen Hunt, Bill Paxton, and Philip Seymour Hoffman, as well as favorite actors Jami Gertz, Cary Elwes, and Alan Ruck, the original film was brimming with acting talent and charm.
In an impressive feat, the cast of “Twisters” outshone expectations, with Daisy Edgar-Jones taking the lead role. Edgar-Jones, who gained prominence from her performances in Hulu’s “Normal People” alongside Paul Mescal, heads the talented ensemble. Joining her are Anthony Ramos, a Broadway veteran transitioning into blockbuster films after “Godzilla” and “Transformers,” and Glen Powell, an emerging star known for his captivating presence since his debut in “Top Gun: Maverick.” Critics have singled out Powell’s performance as a major strength of the film.
Jim Orr shared with Variety that the three leading actors, who are Jim, Maura, and David, are “extremely captivating and endearing.” Furthermore, he mentioned that the positive audience feedback, which was consistent among all age groups, is a clear testament to our talented cast. Kiernan Shipka, who appears in another successful film titled “Longlegs,” is part of our strong supporting cast along with Maura Tierney and David Corenswet. The latter is poised for a significant breakthrough next year as he prepares to join the high-profile “Superman” reboot by James Gunn.
It was helmed by the perfect director for the job
As a passionate gamer, I’ve always been intrigued by the development of new games, especially sequels. When I first heard about the “Twister” sequel project, it was clear that Universal was eager to find a skilled director with a successful track record. Initially, they approached Joseph Kosinski, an apparent choice given his accomplishments in “Tron: Legacy” and “Top Gun: Maverick.” However, when Kosinski left the project to work on the Brad Pitt sports drama “F1,” Universal found themselves in need of another filmmaker who could tell a compelling story and collaborate effectively with a major studio while navigating an existing universe.
Luckily, they discovered Lee Isaac Chung, an accomplished filmmaker who had gained recognition and an Academy Award nomination for his movie “Minari.” Notably, he had previously directed an episode for the third season of Disney+’s “Star Wars” series, “The Mandalorian,” which caught the attention of Kathleen Kennedy, Lucasfilm’s president. Impressed by his work, she advocated for him to her husband Frank Marshall, a producer on “Twisters.” With a persuasive pitch featuring footage from both “Twisters” and “Minari,” he secured the position.
Country music helped draw in overlooked audiences
During the 2024 Super Bowl, “Twisters” boasted an awe-inspiring trailer, rivaling those of other top films. To connect with its target audience, however, “Twisters” employed a strong marketing strategy centered around country music. A renowned country artist from North Carolina named Luke Combs was enlisted to create an original tune for the movie titled “No Love in Oklahoma.” This song was unveiled prior to the film’s release, accompanied by a music video that seamlessly blended clips from “Twisters” with Combs’ performance.
At present, “Ain’t No Love…” has been played over 56 million times on streaming platforms. The entire “Twisters” soundtrack accumulates to an impressive total of 75 million streams. The promotional efforts for this movie have predominantly focused on Midwestern audiences, achieving notable success. Reports suggest that “Twisters” has outperformed expectations in this region, particularly in areas frequently threatened by tornados. The highest-grossing theater showing the film is situated in Moore, Oklahoma, which serves as the movie’s setting.
It’s the perfect film for specialty screens
One frequently neglected area of theater promotion and revenue generation is the up-selling of premium tickets. This strategy gained popularity with the emergence of 3D technology in cinemas, enabling theaters to charge extra for a distinctive viewing experience that couldn’t be matched at home. It’s an effective marketing trick, resulting in some films during the 2000s and 2010s being intentionally produced for 3D screens. A case can be made that a comparable situation exists today between certain movies and IMAX, as filmmakers like Christopher Nolan utilize IMAX to create more captivating cinematic experiences.
Currently, the selection of specialized screens is more diverse than before, catering to viewers with enhanced features that heighten aspects such as audio (Dolby Atmos and Regal RPX) and visual scope (Regal’s ScreenX). For instance, a movie like “Twister” would particularly benefit from these advanced technologies, especially those provided by 4D theaters. These theaters take immersion to another level with moving seats, authentic wind effects, and at times, water sprays.
In major cities, Regal’s 4DX theater seats may cost over $30 apiece. When I (Looper) tried to purchase a ticket for “Twisters” in 4DX, there was such high demand that I had to join an online queue to wait my turn. According to Bob Bagby, the Kansas City theater owner and NATO chairman, all 4DX showings of “Twisters” were close to being fully booked for its entire opening weekend.
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2024-07-24 07:01